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Karbala
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Karbalā (or Kerbala)

Holy city of the Shiite Muslims and administrative centre of the governorate of the same name, in Iraq, 96 km/60 mi southwest of Baghdad; population (2007 est) 449,000. The city lies on the edge of the Syrian desert and is linked by canal to the Hindiyah branch of the River Euphrates. The chief modern industries are the manufacture of textiles, shoes, and cement.

Karbalā is built on the site of the battlefield where Husein, son of Ali and Fatima, was killed in 680 while defending his succession to the khalifate. The shrine of this acclaimed martyr lies in the centre of the city and is visited every year by many pilgrims. In March 1991, Karbalā was the site of a battle in which Shiite Muslim rebels were defeated by Republican Guard units supporting the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, with much damage to the city.

The city is connected with the Euphrates by a canal and with Baghdad by a road which continues to Hillah.



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